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October 21, 2019 School Committee Meeting Update
The School Committee met on October 21st in the Lowell
School library. This was the first of five meetings this year to be
held in our school buildings. We began the meeting with students from
the Lowell leading us in the Pledge of Allegiance and the Lowell School
Pledge. The next school-based meeting is at the Cunniff School on
January 27th.
Lowell students also led the Teaching and Learning Showcase with
several presentations related to STEM Week, including a demonstration
with School Committee members on programming “Bee-Bots” to navigate
paths on a paper maze. In addition, slides
were presented that show the planned building addition and renovations
of the Lowell School that are part of the elementary school construction
project.
The Watertown Community Foundation (WCF) also made a presentation
on their programs and activities related to the schools. In 2018, the
WCF merged with the Watertown Education Foundation and has continued
many of their activities. In 2019, $29,000 in grants were awarded to
teachers for education-related projects, and in the summer of 2019, 14
high school students worked as WCF-funded interns at area businesses and
non-profits. The Foundation is helping to coordinate the Backpack food
program, SAT Prep activities, and several fundraising activities,
including the Spelling Bee, Teacher Tribute, and upcoming Trivia Night
on November 22nd.
MCAS results from the spring of 2019 were presented for all five schools. This included a PowerPoint presentation
as well as a memo from the Assistant Superintendent. Overall, the
results are positive and show improvement in a number of areas, although
challenges remain in several grades. The report covers math, English
language arts, and science test scores for all students as well as
subgroups of students, such as economically disadvantaged and students
with disabilities. Data also are reported for cohorts of students,
showing the change in test scores for the same group of students as they
progress through grades.
An update was provided on the Middle School Turnaround Plan.
An Instructional Leadership Team was created over the summer and an
instructional focus – Learning Targets – was identified to help support
teaching and learning at all grades and subjects. Four Turnaround
Practices are in place and teachers are working in Professional Learning
Teams to develop a number of key school-wide improvement strategies.
In an update on Building for the Future, the School Building
Committee will hear a report on projected costs for the elementary
school projects at its next meeting on November 6th. The High School is beginning a “visioning” process as a key step in developing an educational plan for a new school.
The next meeting of the School Committee is November 18th in Town Hall. Additional information is available on the Watertown Public Schools website at https://www.watertown.k12.ma.us/cms/one.aspx?portalid=190103&pageid=556557.
John Portz
Chair, Watertown School Committee
October 7, 2019 School Committee Meeting Update
The School Committee met on October 7th in Town Hall. In the “Teaching and Learning Showcase,” the Superintendent reported on the district’s 2019 state-determined accountability status.
District-wide, WPS scored 63%, which is defined as “substantial
progress toward goals.” This part of the accountability system measures
the district’s progress according to student test scores, high school
completion, English language proficiency, and two additional indicators
on absenteeism and completion of advanced coursework (in high school).
At the individual school level, the Hosmer is a “School of Recognition”
primarily because of growth in test scores. The other schools either
“met or exceeded targets” or made “progress” towards targets. No school
requires assistance or intervention by the state. At the October 21st Committee meeting, the administration will report on MCAS scores by school.
The Committee heard another report on Tiered-Focus Monitoring
completed by the state on the district’s delivery of special education,
civil rights, English learners, and career/vocational technical
education. The state review identified between one and six findings in
each area that require follow-up by the district. This is a smaller
number of findings compared to the previous review several years ago.
School districts across the state are subject to this review on a
periodic basis.
The Superintendent announced the search process for a new High School
principal. Shirley Lundberg is retiring after seven years at WHS. The
position will be posted on December 6th to receive
applications, and a screening committee of educators, parents, and
community members will be formed in December. Applications will be
reviewed in January with initial interviews beginning the week of
January 21st.
The Committee heard a report from the Policy Subcommittee
on the issue of seeking an MIAA waiver for a non-WPS student (who
attends an online high school) to participate in athletics. The
existing school policy does not allow for such a waiver. The School
Committee followed the recommendation of the Subcommittee, which was to
continue the current policy, recognizing the importance of reserving
school extracurricular activities for students attending WPS or, like
home-schooled students, participating in a curriculum approved by WPS.
In other business, the Committee approved the 8th grade trip to Washington D.C. in early June; reappointed the Superintendent as the district’s voting member on the EDCO collaborative board; and approved a motion that all WPS employees would receive at least the minimum wage.
Also, it was announced that Committee members would be liaisons with
the following schools: Lily Rayman-Read – WHS; Amy Donohue – WMS;
Kendra Foley – Hosmer; Lindsay Mosca – Lowell; John Portz – Cunniff.
In an update on Building for the Future, the School Building
Committee recently heard a report on sustainability (net-zero and LEED)
for the new Hosmer and Cunniff, and the High School project will soon
begin the visioning process for the educational plan and a feasibility
study of possible school locations. Also, it was noted that initial
planning has begun for a campaign in support of a debt exclusion vote to
support a new high school. This vote will not likely happen until
2021, but planning is important and voter approval is required for the
state to cost-share the project.
The next meeting of the School Committee is October 21st at the Lowell School. Additional information is available on the Watertown Public Schools website at https://www.watertown.k12.ma.us/cms/one.aspx?portalid=190103&pageid=556557.
John Portz
Chair, Watertown School Committee
September 9, 2019 School Committee Meeting Update
The School Committee met on September 9th in the first
meeting of the new school year. Two key presentations and votes
involved goals for the current school year for the Superintendent and
the School Committee. The School Committee approved seven goals
for the Superintendent, several of which are a continuation from last
year. The goals are: Fair and Effective Educator Goal Setting and
Evaluation; Effective Communication with the Larger School Community;
Support for the Building for the Future Projects; Systems and
Structures that Ensure Equity; Increased Student Achievement for All
Students; Tiered Systems of Support; and Shaved Vision for District
Improvement. Each goal includes Key Actions and Benchmarks for the
year. The Superintendent also reported on initiatives for the year
under the District Improvement Strategy.
The School Committee also approved four goals
for itself: School Committee Liaisons with Each School; Annual Report
of WPS Activities (with the Superintendent); Articles for Publication;
and School Committee Meetings that Feature Individual Schools. Several
of the goals will require refinement, including the assignment of
individual School Committee members as liaisons to specific schools, and
the set-up of a schedule and details on holding one school committee
meeting at each school during the year. It also was noted that the
Committee will need to play a role in facilitating community support for
the debt exclusion override vote that will be needed to fund a new high
school.
The School Committee welcomed three new administrators to the
district: Rashmi Pimprikar as K-12 Digital Learning and Library
Coordinator, William Bertoni as K-12 Physical Education, Health, and
Wellness Coordinator, and Susanne Dunn as 6-12 English Language Arts
Coordinator. In addition, 33 new professional staff
joined the district, 25 of whom are teachers. In another change, the
new high school student advisors, Lakshmi Thangaraj and Evan Fleischer,
gave their first report to the School Committee.
In other news, Eileen Hsu-Balzer was recognized by the Massachusetts
Association of School Committees with a Lifetime Achievement Award. Ms.
Hsu-Balzer is concluding twenty-four years on the School Committee at
the end of the year.
With the Building for the Future school projects, the Town
Council will be voting on funding for the Owner’s Project Manager for
the elementary schools, and the Designer Selection Panel established by
the Massachusetts School Building Authority will meet on September 17th to select an architect for the High School project.
The Superintendent welcomed students, teachers, and staff to the new
school year. She also announced recent recognition of Watertown by the
state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education for the
district’s holistic approach to equity.
The next meeting of the School Committee is October 7th. Additional information is available on the Watertown Public Schools website at https://www.watertown.k12.ma.us/cms/one.aspx?portalid=190103&pageid=556557.
John Portz
Chair, Watertown School Committee
August 27, 2019 School Committee Meeting Update
The School Committee met twice in August. The first meeting was on August 14th
and was part of the retreat for district administrators. In the first
part of the meeting principals from each school spoke about key
accomplishments of their school over the past year. These presentations
sparked discussion on a range of school-related topics.
The Superintendent briefly outlined four key district improvement
strategies for the coming year: further development of a multi-tiered
system of student support; more work on curriculum alignment and review;
additional work on equity issues; and improved communications with
families and the community.
The School Committee and administrators discussed the communication
ideas developed by the School Committee at its July 8, 2019 retreat. Four goals
were discussed: holding selected School Committee meetings in school
buildings or in Town Hall, but focusing part of the meeting on an
individual school; School Committee members serving as liaisons to
individual schools; School Committee members writing or co-authoring
feature articles on school-related activities; and an Annual Report on
district accomplishments, which would be done with the Administration.
The second meeting was on August 27th in the High School
Lecture Hall. The two major discussion items were drafts of annual
goals for the Superintendent and the School Committee. The
Superintendent presented seven goals
for the coming academic year. These included: Fair and Effective
Educator Goal Setting and Evaluation, Effective Communication with the
School Community, Building for the Future School Projects,
Systems and Structures that Ensure Equity, Narrowing the Achievement
Gap, Increased Student Achievement, and Shared Vision for District
Improvement. Each includes a number of Key Actions and Benchmarks. The
School Committee presented and discussed the four goals identified at
the August 14th meeting (see above). Both Superintendent and School Committee goals will be voted on at the September 9th meeting.
Among votes taken, the School Committee approved a restructuring of the Middle School Athletic fee and program.
For the next two years, the $50 activity fee at the Middle School will
also cover participation in all athletic programs. With the activity
fee and available monies in the existing athletic fee revolving account,
additional coaches and equipment will be made available to expand
intramural and possibly interscholastic sports programs to support
growing participation at the school.
In other votes, the School Committee approved elementary, Middle School, and High School handbooks. It also approved Committee meeting dates for the coming school year.
Other reports covered a Curriculum Subcommittee meeting and an update on Building for the Future projects.
The elementary schools are finishing the Design Development phase,
which will soon include more detailed cost estimates for the three
school projects. For the High School project, the Designer Selection
Panel set-up by the Massachusetts School Building Authority met in
August and identified three architectural firms – Ai3, JCJ Architecture
and Jonathan Levi Architects – for finalist interviews on September 17th.
The firm chosen on that date will then negotiate with the Watertown
School Building Committee and the town for a contract to be the
architect for the High School project.
And finally, congratulations to Eileen Donohue, Watertown’s long-time
and very successful field hockey coach, for her induction into the
National Field Hockey Coaches Association’s Hall of Fame.
The next meeting of the Committee is September 9. Additional
information is available on the Watertown Public Schools website at https://www.watertown.k12.ma.us/cms/one.aspx?portalid=190103&pageid=556557.
John Portz
Chair, Watertown School Committee
July 22, 2019 School Committee Meeting Update
The School Committee met on July 22, 2019. The main topic for the
meeting was a report on the Superintendent’s annual evaluation. At this
time each year the School Committee completes an evaluation of the
Superintendent based on her annual goals for the past academic year as
well as four standards identified by the Massachusetts Department of
Elementary and Secondary Education. Each member of the School Committee
completed their own evaluation, then the Chair created a composite evaluation that includes comments from members as well as a tally of all ratings.
The evaluation was very positive. As one School Committee member
noted, “Dr. Galdston continues on her path to becoming an exceptionally
talented and capable superintendent.” In the final summary rating, all
seven members rated the Superintendent as “proficient” (the rating scale
for this part of the evaluation is unsatisfactory, needs improvement,
proficient, and exemplary). For the four state standards, which are
Instructional Leadership, Management and Operations, Family and
Community Engagement, and Professional Culture, most of the ratings also
were proficient, with several exemplary, and one needs improvement.
The six annual goals use a different rating scale, but the most frequent
rating was “met,” with several goals indicating “significant progress”
and some “exceeded” ratings as well. While noting areas for growth, the
overall evaluation provided strong support for the Superintendent’s
leadership of the Watertown schools.
In other reports and presentations, it was announced that the School
Building Committee will meet on Wednesday, July 24. One key agenda item
is a decision on the preferred design for the addition to the Lowell
School. For the High School project, the Designer Selection Panel will
meet in mid-August to review proposals from architectural firms to be
the designer for the High School. The Selection Panel is composed of 16
people, 13 of whom are appointed by the Massachusetts School Building
Authority. The other three are from the town and include the chief
executive officer of the town (Town Manager), Superintendent, and a
representative from the School Committee. The Committee selected Mark
Sideris to be their representative. Not only is he on the School
Committee, but he is the President of the Town Council and Chair of the
Building Committee.
In other business, the Superintendent presented a report on mobility rates
in the district, based on locally-generated data. The state prepares
the official report later in 2019. Based on our preliminary data with a
total enrollment of 2784 students, the intake rate this past year was
2.8%, which is based on the number of students who enter the district.
The churn rate was 5.2%, which is based on the number of students who
enter or exit the district. And, the overall stability rate was 94.5%,
which is based on the number of students who persist throughout the
school year. Based on these preliminary numbers, student mobility is
lower than the previous year, indicating slightly higher stability in
the student population.
The next meeting of the Committee is August 19. Additional information is available on the Watertown Public Schools website at https://www.watertown.k12.ma.us/cms/one.aspx?portalid=190103&pageid=556557.
John Portz
Chair, Watertown School Committee
July 8, 2019 School Committee Meeting Update
The School Committee met twice on July 8, 2019. The first meeting was at 4:30 and had only one agenda item: approval of transfers in the FY2019 budget. A memo to the School Committee explained the major factors that resulted in a favorable end-of-the-year financial position. These included a variety of one-time savings in salaries, such as three unfilled professional positions, a reduction in the number of instructional aides based on changes in student enrollment, and other savings. Also, there were savings from a reduction in expenses, including lower out-of-district tuitions since fewer students attended Minuteman Vocational school than were originally budgeted, additional Circuit Breaker funds from the state for extraordinary special education costs, and other expense savings. With these one-time, additional monies available, the School Committee approved a number of budget transfers. These covered items not previously funded, such as curriculum materials, musical instruments, and athletic equipment. In addition, these monies were used to pay for school capital projects that were already planned, but would have required funding support from the town. Most of these projects are at the Middle School and High School.
The School Committee also met at 5:15 for a retreat at the Commanders’ Mansion, facilitated by Dorothy Presser, our field representative from the Massachusetts Association of School Committees. There were two major topics. First, we discussed the Superintendent’s evaluation process. Topics included the various steps in the evaluation as well as the criteria and rating standards used in the evaluation. Each School Committee member will complete an evaluation, which is combined into a composite by the Committee chair. A draft of the composite evaluation will be presented to the Committee for discussion and a vote at the July 22 meeting.
The second topic was a discussion of strategies to improve the effectiveness of the School Committee. Most of the discussion focused on ways to improve community engagement and input to the School Committee as well as communication from the Committee to the public. Possible strategies include School Committee liaisons with each school, holding some Committee meetings in schools or inviting schools to be featured at a Committee meeting, writing feature articles on key school events and happenings, and working with the Administration to produce an annual school report. These and other strategies will be discussed over the summer, with a presentation of Committee goals for the year in early September.
The next meeting of the Committee is July 22 in Town Hall. Additional information is available on the Watertown Public Schools website at https://www.watertown.k12.ma.us/cms/one.aspx?portalid=190103&pageid=556557.
John Portz
Chair, Watertown School Committee
June 17, 2019 School Committee Meeting Update
The School Committee met on Monday, June 17, from 7-9 PM. This was
the last day of school. Many thanks to educators and staff throughout
the District for their work during the school year, and to the parents
for their support. Congratulations to students for completing another
year, with special congratulations to 8th graders moving to the High School and our High School graduates heading to college, careers, military or other endeavors.
At this meeting the Superintendent made two key presentations on activities in the district. The first presentation
was an update on progress in completing initiatives undertaken during
2018-19 as part of the District Improvement Strategy. The update
covered four strategic objectives and four major initiatives under each
objective. Among key activities during the year: Responsive Classroom
in the elementary grades, Equity Leadership Team, Atlas curriculum
mapping, professional development partnerships, instructional coaches at
the elementary level, iReady assessments, 1:1 technology, new website,
Professional Learning Teams, parent engagement strategies, and
coordination with the Building Committee on school building projects.
In the fall, MCAS and other data will be available to complement this
description of activities.
The second presentation was the Superintendent’s report
on accomplishments related to her 2018-19 goals. Last September the
School Committee approved six goals for the Superintendent. Goals were
developed around educator goal setting and evaluation, communication,
school building projects, student achievement, the achievement gap, and a
shared vision for the district. The report identifies the completion
status for actions designed to meet each goal. The School Committee
will use information from this document as part of its annual evaluation of the Superintendent, which will be completed this summer.
The School Committee also heard a report on including Watertown in the state’s Seal of Biliteracy
program. Under this program, school districts can award a Seal of
Biliteracy to high school students who meet certain benchmarks that
prove competency in two languages. Eligible students include native
English speakers who learn another language as well as English Language
Learners fluent in a different language who learn English. The
Committee will vote on joining this program at a subsequent meeting this
summer.
Accomplishments in spring sports were recognized early in the
meeting. The High School track team was particularly successful,
setting a number of new school records.
The Committee also heard an update from the Superintendent on staffing changes
planned for the coming year, primarily at the elementary schools. This
includes the addition of several new positions as well as the
reallocation of positions to meet class size guidelines and provide
needed services. In an update on Building for the Future, it
was noted that the Building Committee will meet on June 19 to continue
its review of elementary school designs, and the new Owner’s Project
Manager for the High School will be introduced at a subsequent meeting.
In upcoming meetings, the Curriculum Subcommittee will hold a meeting
at 3:30 on July 8, and the School Committee will have a retreat later
that day. Additional information is available on the Watertown Public
Schools website at https://www.watertown.k12.ma.us/cms/one.aspx?portalid=190103&pageid=556557.
John Portz
Chair, Watertown School Committee
June 3, 2019 School Committee Meeting Update
The School Committee met on Monday, June 3, from 7-9 PM. Highlights
of this meeting included recognition of students and staff as well as
presentations of school improvement plans from the three elementary
schools. Thirteen retiring staff
were recognized for their many contributions to the Watertown Public
Schools. Collectively, they provided over 280 years of service to the
Watertown schools. Seven of the 13 were in attendance at the meeting.
Several students also were recognized. The High School Student
Advisors, Honor Petrie and Olivia Lampasona, updated the Committee and
spoke about their plans for next year as well as their role before the
Committee. The High School Valedictorian, Joshua Theodore, and the
Salutatorian, Nathan Follett, were unable to attend due to a senior
event, but Principal Lundberg read statements from each in which they
reflected on their High School experience. All four students are
attending college in the coming year: Tulane, Endicott, Princeton, and
Cornell. Mange Camara also was recognized for his indoor track
accomplishments, including state records in the 55 and 300-meter races
and will be attending Northeastern University.
The Cunniff, the Hosmer, and the Lowell
Elementary Schools presented key accomplishments from the current year
as well as their school improvement plans for the coming year. The
principals, teachers, and parents on the site councils of each school
commented on many important initiatives and practices in the elementary
schools. Among topics presented and discussed: Responsive Classroom
curriculum, iReady assessment, co-teaching, standards-based report
cards, tiered instruction, Readers’ Workshop, summer reading, diversity
initiatives, Foreign Language in the Elementary School, newsletters and
other communication strategies, Literacy and Math Nights, International
Night, and more. It was interesting to hear about common initiatives
across the schools, such as Responsive Classroom as the social-emotional
curriculum, as well as individual school strategies, such as the
Diversity Councils at the Lowell, the Welcoming Committee at the Hosmer,
and Reading Buddies at the Cunniff.
Among “Action Items,” the School Committee discussed and approved an
increase in annual compensation for the Committee from $3200 to $4500.
The last increase in compensation was in 2008. In explaining a need for
the increase, several members noted the increase in the number of
meetings and overall meeting time in recent years, as well as the
overall rise in costs, such as childcare, that members sometimes incur
for participating in meetings. It also was noted that compensation for
Town Councilors recently increased to $7500, and community members of
the Board of Assessors receive annual compensation of $5075. By the
Town Charter, the School Committee can vote on a compensation change
only in the first 18 months of a two-year term and the increase must be
approved by the Town Council. It does not go into effect until after
the next election.
In other business, the FY2019 Budget Update
outlined recent changes in the budget that leaves unencumbered funds of
$569,000 as of May 29, which is 1.2% of the budget. The Budget Office
anticipates that the FY2019 budget will be full expended by the end of
the fiscal year. In an update on Building for the Future, it
was noted that the Building Committee will finalize its vote for the
Owner’s Project Manager for the elementary schools, and the High School
project is continuing in the designer (architect) selection process,
concluding with selection of a designer in late August or early
September.
The next School Committee meeting is June 17, 2019. Additional
information is available on the Watertown Public Schools website at https://www.watertown.k12.ma.us/cms/one.aspx?portalid=190103&pageid=556557.
John Portz
Chair, Watertown School Committee
May 20, 2019 School Committee Meeting Update
The School Committee met on Monday, May 20, from 7-9:15 PM. This
meeting featured three presentations: two school improvement plans and a
presentation on vocational, technical and career education
opportunities. The Middle School Improvement Plan
identified a number of important initiatives and actions for the coming
school year. These include the addition of instructional coaches,
continued use of iReady formative assessments, differentiation of
instruction, effective use of common planning time, and further
development of a social-emotional curriculum. The High School Improvement Plan
also identified a number of key initiatives and actions for the next
school year. These include evaluation of the new class schedule,
continuation of curriculum development through Atlas, completion of
NEASC reports, expansion of social-emotional learning activities, and
completion of an Educational Plan and other activities related to the
Feasibility Study for a new high school.
The third presentation on vocational, technical and career
opportunities was by the consultant firm Digital Ready (paid for by the
Barr Foundation). The report and presentation
provided interesting and helpful information on the status of possible
career pathways at the High School. The report includes general
background information on the student population at the High School, a
“needs assessment” based on interviews with students, teachers, and
others in the community, “labor market analysis” of Watertown and the
Boston area, an “asset map” of community strengths and opportunities,
and analysis of potential content pathways, such as computer science,
engineering, and humanities, as well as options for structuring new
pathways, such as state Chapter 74 programs and Innovation Pathways.
The report documents the strong concentration of life sciences and
related businesses in Watertown, and it provides insights on strategies
for students and teachers to connect to the business community. This
report will be helpful as the district begins the planning process in
the summer and fall to develop an Educational Plan related to the new
building Feasibility Study.
Among “Action” items, the Committee approved the 2019-2020 School Calendar, a memo regarding low attendance early release on Good Friday, a schedule of summer School Committee meetings, a fee structure
for building use by members of the public, and the policies in the
updated Policy Manual (with three policies on-hold). In addition, the
Committee approved entering into a contract with the Massachusetts Association of School Committee to host and update the newly-approved Policy Manual.
In an update on Building for the Future, for the elementary
school projects, the Town Council on May 14 approved a $12 million loan
order to fund the remaining architectural work for this project. In
addition, the School Building Committee gave initial approval to Hill
International to be the Owner’s Project Manager for the elementary
projects. For the High School project, the next step is to begin the
designer (architect) selection process. This will conclude in August
when the designer is selected.
In other happenings at the meeting, Erin Moulton was introduced as
the new principal at the Hosmer School, effective July 1, 2019, and
Renee Ruggiero, the Executive Assistant for the School Committee and
Superintendent, was thanked for her service as she leaves at the end of
the month for a position at the Berklee College of Music.
The next School Committee meeting is June 3, 2019. Additional
information is available on the Watertown Public Schools website at https://www.watertown.k12.ma.us/cms/one.aspx?portalid=190103&pageid=556557.
John Portz
Chair, Watertown School Committee
May 6, 2019 School Committee Meeting Update
The School Committee met on Monday, May 6, from 7-9 PM. There were two interesting and informative
“Teaching and Learning Showcase” presentations.
First, the Committee heard about services provided by the Coordinated
Family and Community Engagement Program, formerly known as the Family
Network. Funded from a state agency through the school department, this
program provides services for children ages 0 to 5 and their families.
Among the services are thirteen playgroups each week, parent support
activities, and a number of special events. Located on the first floor
of the administration building on Common Street, the program highlights a
play curriculum that prepares children for pre-k and kindergarten
programs.
The second presentation was by the Robotics Club
at Watertown High School. This is a very active group that immerses
students in designing and building a robot that then participates in
area competitions. The students described how they used their STEM
skills to build a robot that must perform several key tasks as part of
the competition.
Another informational presentation came when Helen Chatel, the
Executive Director of Watertown Cable (WCATV), presented a $40,000 check
to the School Committee on behalf of WCATV. Located in the High School
building, Watertown Cable includes several studios and production
equipment that offer important learning opportunities in media
production and development. There are six classes for high school
students, and in 2018 over 100 students produced various media
productions and shows.
Among “Action” items, the Committee approved policies in Section I,
Instructional Programs, of the Policy Manual, and it also authorized the
administration to pre-pay special education FY20 tuitions to the degree
allowed by state law. The Committee also approved a Resolution
titled, “In Support of Full Funding for Our Public Schools.” Sponsored
by Fund Our Future, a state-wide coalition of labor and community
groups, the resolution calls for changes to the state’s foundation
budget formula, which is the basis for Chapter 70 state aid for schools,
and has not been substantially revised since 1993. A 2015 state task
force recommended a number of changes and the legislature and governor
are currently considering changes.
Among “Reports,” the Committee heard a presentation on the Tiered Focused Monitoring Program,
formerly referred to as Coordinated Program Review. Conducted by the
state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education on a six-year
cycle, this is a detailed review of several major programs and areas:
special education, civil rights, career/vocational education, and
English learners. The review begins now with a focus on individual
education plans for special education students as well as civil rights
responsibilities in guidance and counseling services. A survey will be
sent to parents, and the first report is due sixty days after completion
of the review. Additional reviews of other areas will take place over
the next several years.
In an update on Building for the Future, for the elementary school projects, on May 7th the Building Committee will interview three finalists for the Owners’ Project Manager position, and on May 14th
the Town Council will vote on a $12 million loan order to fund the next
phases of architectural work. For the High School project, Compass
Project Management has been approved by the Massachusetts School
Business Authority (MSBA) as the Owner’s Project Manager, and a group
from Watertown is participating in a MSBA-sponsored ‘design summit’ to
learn more about possible high school designs. The Committee also
discussed the importance of planning for a debt exclusion vote as part
of the high school process.
In other comments, the Superintendent highlighted the hard work and
many contributions of teachers in Watertown during Teacher Appreciation
Week, and the Committee Chair noted that the proposed FY20 town budget
from the Town Manager includes a 5% increase for the school department,
continuing the strong support provided by the town for public
education. Among upcoming meetings, State Senator Will Brownsberger is
hosting a meeting with Senator Jason Lewis on the “State of Education
Funding in Local Schools,” May 13th, at 6 PM, in the
Honan-Allston Branch Library, 300 N. Harvard Street, Allston.
Watertown, Belmont and Boston will make presentations.
Additional information is available on the Watertown Public Schools website at https://www.watertown.k12.ma.us/cms/one.aspx?portalid=190103&pageid=556557.
John Portz
Chair, Watertown School Committee
April 22, 2019 School Committee Meeting Update
The School Committee met on Monday, April 22 from 7-8:30 PM. This was primarily a ‘business’ meeting in which the Committee reviewed updated policies for its Policy Manual. Two major sections of the Manual, sections B and J, were approved. Section B includes policies related to Committee Governance and Operations, while Section J involves various policies related to Students. The Committee also completed a first reading of Section I, which focuses on various Instructional policies. This section will be subject to a vote at the next meeting. Several policies were referred to other subcommittees or the town attorney for further review. The Committee deferred to a later date, pending more information, the decision to have the Massachusetts Association of School Committees host and update the Policy Manual.
In the Building for the Future update, it was noted that the School Building Committee meets this Thursday, April 25, from 6-8 PM in Town Hall to continue its review of the school building projects, focusing on the elementary schools. The Town Council will have the first reading of a loan order on April 23 for over $12 million to continue the elementary school design work. For the high school project, which is in partnership with the state and at an earlier stage, the Massachusetts School Building Authority on May 6 will make the final decision on an Owner’s Project Manager for the high school project.
In other business, the School Committee heard an update on the FY 2019 budget, which shows a positive balance of $3.1 million as of March 31. The Committee also approved cash gifts to the District as well as the disposition of surplus property.
Upcoming meetings include the Budget and Finance subcommittee on May 2, 6-7 PM, in 301 Administration Building. The Budget and Finance subcommittee agenda includes a discussion of rental charges for the use of school buildings. The Superintendent’s Coffee is on April 29, from 9-10 AM and 7:30-8:30 PM in room 301 of the Phillips Administration Building. The next School Committee meeting is May 6 at 7 PM in Town Hall.
Additional information is available on the Watertown Public Schools website at https://www.watertown.k12.ma.us/cms/one.aspx?portalid=190103&pageid=556557.
John Portz
Chair, Watertown School Committee
April 1, 2019 School Committee Meeting Update
The School Committee met on Monday, April 1, in Town Hall. One major agenda item was the public hearing on the proposed FY20 school budget. We covered much of this in the last meeting as well. The Superintendent provided an overview of key accomplishments from the past year and goals for next year. The level-services budget for next year requires 90% of our projected overall 5% increase. This includes three elementary classroom teachers needed to retain class sizes within our guidelines. It also includes projected salary increases for teachers and other staff, an increase in Minuteman costs, anticipated increase in basic supplies, and a number of other costs to maintain level services. Beyond level services, there is $237,700 for new initiatives, which includes two Middle School instructional coaches, an additional social worker, increase in a Spanish teacher allocation as well as monies for curriculum. The requested town appropriation is $50,441,424.
The School Committee voted the proposed budget at a meeting held yesterday in the Town Council Office space. After the School Committee meeting, the approved budget will be forwarded to the Town Manager, who incorporates it into the overall town budget, which is then presented to the Town Council. In May, the School Committee and School Administration will present the budget to the Town Council, which will vote on the entire town budget in June.
The School Committee also heard from a Middle School teacher and group of students on a program called One Step Forward. These students are working on a variety of issues related to student risk behaviors as well as homelessness and other social issues. They recently met with the Peer Leaders at the High School and hope to join that group next year.
The Committee also reviewed the proposed school calendar for the next school year. School will begin for students on September 3 (the day after Labor Day) and will end in June, although the exact day will depend on the number of snow days. The Committee will vote on the calendar at its May 6 meeting. It also was noted that the last day for school this year is currently a half-day on June 17, assuming there are no more missed days.
In other business, the Committee continued its review of the Policy Manual. We approved several policy sections and did a first reading on Section J. We also discussed the option of having the Policy Manual hosted on the Internet by the Massachusetts Association of School Committees. A number of questions were raised about this option that will be addressed before any action is taken.
We also heard an update on school building projects- both the elementary projects and Watertown High School. The next School Building Committee meeting will be held on April 25 at 6 PM. These meetings are open to the public and are broadcast live on WCA-TV.
The next School Committee meeting is on April 22, 7 PM in Town Hall. Additional information is available on the WPS website at https://www.watertown.k12.ma.us/cms/one.aspx?portalid=190103&pageid=556557.
John Portz
School Committee Chair
March 18, 2019 School Committee Meeting Update
The School Committee met on Monday, March 18, in Town Hall. A major agenda item was a presentation of the proposed FY20 school budget. The Budget and Finance Subcommittee met four times in the last few weeks to discuss the budget. The Superintendent presented her proposed budget, which was recommended by the subcommittee at its last meeting.
Creating a level-services budget is an important first step in developing the operating budget. A level-services budget identifies expenditure changes necessary to provide the same level of services in the next school year. Because of enrollment shifts at the elementary level, this includes three new elementary teachers as well as partial position increases in the Middle School. Another major budget ‘driver’ is a projected increase of $468,000 for Minuteman tuitions, including a capital charge for their new building. Also included are projected salary increases for all staff as well as supplies. The level-services budget requires 90% of the proposed 5% overall increase in the town appropriation. This is an adjustment downward from the last School Committee meeting when it was expected a new kindergarten teacher would be needed for level services. However, projected kindergarten enrollments are lower than expected. This leaves $237,700 for new initiatives. Included in the new initiatives are two Middle School instructional coaches, an additional social worker, a .5 FLES teacher, as well as monies for curriculum and technology. The requested town appropriation is $50,441,000.
The School Committee also created an ad hoc committee to review the compensation for members. The compensation was last changed in 2008, from $2100 to $3200. The ad hoc committee will review this issue, including a comparison to other communities, and report back to the School Committee. For a change to be effective in 2020, the School Committee and Town Council must approve a change by June 30 of this year.
The School Committee continued its review of the Policy Manual. It did a first reading on several sections of the Manual and will do the second reading and vote at its April 1 meeting. In other news, the Superintendent announced that a second pre-K class will start at the Hosmer in the fall. There is a waiting list with considerable interest in this class. The Superintendent also noted that an organization called City at the Lab will conduct a study of Watertown businesses to see how high school students can be best prepared for jobs in the community and beyond.
The next School Committee meeting is April 1 at 7 PM in Town Hall. This meeting will include a public hearing on the proposed FY20 budget. The School Committee will vote on the budget at a subsequent meeting.
Additional information is available on the WPS website at: www.watertown.k12.ma.us
John Portz
School Committee Chair
March 4, 2019 School Committee Meeting Update
The School Committee met on Monday, March 4, in Town Hall. The
meeting began with a moment of remembrance for Allison Donovan, a
curriculum coordinator, teacher and interim principal in the district,
who died tragically in an automobile-pedestrian incident, as well as
Nancy Heffernan, the Town Treasurer/Collector, who also passed away in
the last month.
The Teaching and Learning Showcase featured an overview of the Middle School Turnaround
process. In the 2018 MCAS tests the Middle School results were lower
than expected, particularly among student subgroups. The state requires
a Turnaround Plan in these instances. With a state grant, the district
has hired SchoolWorks to assist in this process. An Instructional
Leadership Team has been created to focus on this work, which will
involve a variety of strategies, including an alignment of curriculum to
standards, use of assessment data, and targeted instructional
supports. A Turnaround Plan is due to the state by June 30, 2019.
The administration also provided a preview of the FY 2020 operating
budget, which begins July 1, 2019. This preview focused on a “level services budget,”
which estimates the costs needed to provide the same level of services
next year as provided this year. Typically, the main increases are
projected salary increases for current teachers and other staff as well
as any other increases, such as new teachers, needed to continue
services if enrollments are projected to increase. For FY 2020, the
projected level services budget includes an increase of $2.23 million to
cover projected salary increases, up to four new teachers in the
elementary schools, several other staff adjustments, an increase in
costs for students attending Minuteman Vocational High School, and a
number of other adjustments. The level services budget uses 93% of the
total projected 5% increase from the town. This leaves $173,000 for new
initiatives. The administration is proposing that these funds be used
for Middle School instructional coaches, a social worker, and an
increase in Spanish teaching capacity. The School Committee’s review of
the proposed budget continues with subcommittee meetings on March 7, 11
and 13, then another presentation at the School Committee meeting on
March 18.
In another budget related action, the Committee approved staffing adjustments
for the current year, using already available funds. This includes
kindergarten aides as well as door monitors at the Middle and High
Schools.
The School Committee also discussed the status of rental fees for the
use of school buildings by local non-profit organizations and other
groups. There has been some confusion and unintended consequences this
year over the fee structure approved last year, although not fully
implemented, which differed significantly from what had often been
charged in past years. The Committee did not take a vote, but it was
expected that the administration would continue charging fees as it did
in the fall, based on past practice. The Committee will continue
reviewing this issue and establish a new fee structure to begin July 1,
2019.
In the Building for the Future update, it was reported that
the School Building Committee recommended to the town that Ai3 continue
as the architect for the remainder of the elementary schools project,
but that Daedalus not be continued as the owner’s project manager. The
Building Committee will seek a new owner’s project manager for the rest
of the project. At the High School level, a subcommittee of the
Building Committee will soon review applications for the owner’s project
manager for the High School project. This hire will take place in the
next few months and involves a different process that is controlled
largely by the state School Building Authority.
The next School Committee meeting is March 18 at 7 PM in Town Hall.
Additional information is available on the WPS website at: https://www.watertown.k12.ma.us/cms/one.aspx?portalid=190103&pageid=556557.
John Portz
School Committee Chair
February 4, 2019 School Committee Meeting Update
The School Committee met on Monday, February 4th, in Town Hall. The High School was featured in two major agenda items. First, the School Committee heard an overview
of programs at the high school that provide a strong core curriculum as
well as a variety of academic opportunities for students. The major
curriculum requirements covering math, science, English, and social
studies are consistent with the Mass Core, which is recommended by the
state. In addition, the presentation covered a variety of other
curriculum opportunities, including advanced placement courses,
engineering in Project Lead the Way, Virtual High School, and industry
certifications in graphic design, media broadcasting, and other areas.
Second, the School Committee reviewed and approved changes to the High School Program of Studies
for the next school year. A common theme was creating more flexibility
in the curriculum to meet the varied needs of students. A prominent
example includes revisions to the physical education/wellness
requirements. In this area, there are graduation requirements for the
high school, which can be met through a combination of four
semester-long courses related to physical fitness and wellness. There
also is a state requirement that physical fitness be taught as a subject
each year that a student attends school. This requirement can be met
by the courses, but new for the coming year will be several other
options to meet the requirement, including participation in athletics or
a structured physical activity.
In response to questions raised in the community, the Superintendent presented a report
on actions taken across the district to ensure that all of our school
buildings are safe for students and staff. Of particular concern is
asbestos in the buildings, which is typical for any building constructed
at the time of our schools, which range from the Lowell in 1925 to the
Hosmer in 1967. In the last year, almost $400,000 was spent on
abatement of asbestos at the High School as well as monitoring and
addressing other conditions in the buildings. The Superintendent’s
report includes a list of proactive and remediation activities to ensure
the maintenance of all school buildings.
In the Building for the Future update, it was reported that
the School Building Committee recommended to the town that almost $170
million be allocated for the construction of new elementary buildings to
replace the Hosmer and Cunniff and major renovations/addition at the
Lowell. The Town Manager included this level of financial support in
the Capital Improvement Plan, which is subject to a vote by the Town
Council in the near future. The next meeting of the Building Committee
is February 6th at 6 PM in Town Hall.
The Buildings and Grounds subcommittee met just prior to the School
Committee meeting to discuss building rental issues, including fees. A
discussion of fees will continue at the next subcommittee meeting, to be
jointly scheduled with the Budget and Finance subcommittee. Also, the
Committee discussed options
to host school-community forums at each school as well as facilitate
ways for School Committee members to observe teaching practices in the
schools. In other actions, the Committee approved a field trip, the
disposition of surplus property, gifts, amended EDCO article of
agreement, and a motion to not participate in the state’s school choice
program. Of particular note among gifts is the recent announcement by
the Watertown Community Foundation of grants totaling over $29,000 to
various school projects.
Upcoming meetings include the Policy subcommittee on February 6th at 3 PM; Budget and Finance subcommittee on February 12th at 6 PM; and the Superintendent’s Coffee on February 25th at 9 AM and 7 PM. The next School Committee meeting is March 4th at 7 PM.
Additional information is available on the WPS website at https://sites.google.com/a/watertown.k12.ma.us/watertown-k12-ma-us/.
John Portz
School Committee Chair
January 7, 2019 School Committee Meeting Update
The School Committee met on Monday, January 7th in its
first meeting of 2019. First on the agenda was the Committee’s annual
reorganization. The current officers were re-elected: John Portz as
chair, Kendra Foley as vice-chair, and Amy Donohue as secretary.
Subcommittee assignments also remain the same as in 2018. See the WPS website for assignments.
The Teaching and Learning Showcase featured the Kingian Nonviolence
program in the Watertown schools. Students and faculty from the Middle
School, along with Lieutenant Unsworth from the Watertown Police
Department, provided an informative presentation on Kingian Nonviolence
activities. Kingian Nonviolence
is an interactive training program in which shared values and engaged
dialogue help people deal with conflict situations. Since 2016, many
WPS faculty and students, as well as community members and police
officers, have engaged in this training program. At the meeting,
students from the Middle School spoke about the key principles of the
program and how it has affected their lives. These conflict resolution
skills are being introduced to 5th graders, and training
programs continue for the community. Kingian Nonviolence integrates
well with the social-emotional curriculum recently introduced in the
Watertown schools.
Another presentation was the Superintendent’s mid-cycle self-assessment
on meeting her 2018-19 goals. The Superintendent’s report covered
various action steps connected to each of six general goals. The six
goals are: fair, effective educator goal setting and evaluation;
effective communication with the larger school community; Building for the Future elementary
and high school projects; increased academic achievement for all
students; narrowing the achievement gap; and, shared vision for district
improvement. School Committee questions covered a variety of topics,
particularly in the student learning area and prompted a good discussion
on curriculum, assessment, and related issues.
The main ‘action item’ was approval of the FY2020 Capital Improvement Program (CIP).
The CIP covers capital-related expenditures, such as purchasing school
furniture and painting hallways and classrooms, that are long-term in
nature. There are a variety of needs across the district that fall into
this category. The School Committee amended the proposal by removing
$100,000 in technology costs since that amount will be covered through
the district’s operating budget. The total request of $1.6 million will
be forwarded to the Town Council, which will hold a hearing on the
town-wide CIP and prioritize items for the coming year, and the Town
Manager will make recommendations as part of the FY2020 town budget
process.
The Building for the Future update included two important news items. For the elementary schools, at the January 2nd
meeting of the School Building Committee, the architect presented
conceptual designs for new Hosmer and Cunniff school buildings and a
major addition and renovations at the Lowell. At the upcoming January
23rd meeting of the Building Committee the architect will
present cost estimates for these projects. If the Building Committee
votes to proceed, a funding request will be forwarded to the Town
Manager, who would then make a recommendation to the Town Council.
These are exciting opportunities to create state-of-the-art facilities
at all three schools. For the high school project, in mid-December the
Massachusetts School Building Authority approved Watertown’s request to
proceed to the next “Feasibility” phase. Initial tasks are hiring an
owner’s project manager and architect for the high school project.
The Superintendent will hold her next coffee on January 28th, 9 AM and 7 PM; the Curriculum subcommittee meets on January 30th at 3:30-5 PM, and the next School Committee meeting is February 4th at 7 PM.
Additional information is available on the WPS website at https://www.watertown.k12.ma.us/.
John Portz
School Committee Chair
December 10, 2018 School Committee Meeting Update
The School Committee met on Monday, December 10th in Town
Hall. The meeting started with two interesting “Teaching and Learning”
presentations. The first presentation focused on an important addition
to the elementary schools: literacy and math coaches.
There are two coaches in each subject area who work with teachers to
further improve the teaching and learning experience. The coaches
assist with professional development, model teaching practices, help
analyze student work, and support in other ways the learning environment
at each elementary school.
The second presentation was on the new class schedule at the high school,
to be implemented in fall 2019. The current 7-day schedule has been
used for over 20 years. The new schedule is based on a 5-day cycle in
which classes meet four times each week and include one longer block of
76 minutes for each sequence. This provides a better opportunity for
project-based activities and other teaching strategies that take longer
than the shorter class sessions, which are typically 50 minutes. This
also allows the advisory session to meet once every five days rather
than seven days. This year teachers will be planning new approaches and
strategies for this schedule. A parent meeting is planned for January
16th to explain and answer questions about the new schedule.
In the area of budgeting, the School Committee approved goals
for the FY 2020 budget. Draft goals were presented by the
administration and cover four strategic areas: Equity, Excellence,
Community, and Building for the Future. The first subcommittee meeting
on the FY 2020 budget will be in January 2019. The School Committee
also approved an increase in compensation for lunch aides, to $12.50 per hour, as well as pay rate structure for auditorium technicians, who are used by outside groups that rent the high school auditorium.
In other business, the Committee approved policies in Section K
as part of the review of all Committee policies and heard a report from
the Buildings and Grounds Subcommittee. The Capital Budget for FY 2020
was originally scheduled for a vote, but was postponed until the
January meeting to allow for more discussion with town officials. The
School Committee also approved a resolution
requesting that the Federal Communications Commission reconsider a
proposed change in regulations related to local cable providers. This
change would likely limit or end many in-kind contributions made by
Watertown Cable Access in support of the schools and town, such as
curriculum opportunities for our students, access to and donations of
media equipment, and other activities that support local programming.
The Superintendent provided a report on class sizes
in the middle and high schools, which led to an interesting discussion
on the structure and course offerings in the secondary curriculum. The
Curriculum Subcommittee will follow-up with more discussion.
The Building for the Future update included two important
news items. For the elementary schools, the Town Manager has agreed to
explore the option of building two new schools – replacing the Hosmer
and Cunniff schools – along with smaller additions and major renovations
at the Lowell. This is an exciting opportunity to create more new
learning spaces that are state-of-the-art and energy efficient. The
Building Committee will review this option at its January 2nd
meeting (6 PM in Town Hall). For the high school project, the
Massachusetts School Building Authority will meet on Wed., December 12th,
to approve Watertown’s participation in the next “Feasibility” phase.
Initial tasks are hiring an owner’s project manager and architect for
the high school project.
The Superintendent will hold her next coffee on December 17th, 9 AM and 7 PM, and the next School Committee meeting is January 7th.
Additional information is available on the WPS website at https://sites.google.com/a/watertown.k12.ma.us/watertown-k12-ma-us/.
John Portz
November 19 School Committee Meeting Update
The School Committee met on Monday, November 19th in Town Hall. The lead presentation was on MCAS scores and accountability determinations at the High School and Middle School. Test scores from spring 2018 were reported for English language arts (ELA), math and science, by school and by various subgroups, such as English language learners. At the High School, the percent of students scoring "proficient" or "advanced" increased from last year in ELA and science, and stayed the same in math. All scores were above the state average. Subgroup performance varied, with several groups showing achievement gaps of 20 percentage points or more. The accountability determination, based on targets set by the state, was “meeting targets.”
At the Middle School, MCAS test performance showed a decline in the percentage of students scoring "meeting" or "exceeding" expectations in all test areas compared to the 2017 scores, although ELA scores in 7th and 8th grade, science in 8th grade, and math in 7th grade remained above the state average. Achievement gaps were significant with a number of subgroups. The accountability determination was “partially meeting targets.” For both the Middle and High Schools, principals and curriculum coordinators described a number of changes to improve student learning, and Committee members asked questions on a variety of issues, including curriculum alignment and teacher practice. This was the third presentation to the Committee on 2018 MCAS scores and the new state accountability system.
Another topic of discussion was Watertown’s participation in Minuteman Vocational School District. Watertown is not a member of Minuteman, but it currently sends and pays tuition for 56 students. At several previous subcommittee meetings there was discussion about the pros and cons of joining Minuteman. Citing several factors, including higher costs in the long term and the continuing availability of space for Watertown students, the Committee voted to continue its current status, while reviewing this issue again after completion of the feasibility study for a new Watertown high school and in consideration of possible changes at Minuteman and other area options for vocational education.
The Committee also heard several other reports: a summary of recent professional development activities on election day (when students were not in school); review of capital improvements completed this past summer; and an update on the current budget. The Committee also completed a first reading on a set of policy revisions. At the beginning of the meeting, two Watertown seniors, Nathan Follett and Robert Leonard, were congratulated for being commended by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation for their performance on the 2017 PSAT exam.
Building for the Future updates included comments on the recent community forums at the Hosmer and Cunniff Schools, as well as a presentation by the Superintendent on the High School process, which is completing the Eligibility stage and will seek approval from the state to hire the architect and Owner’s project manager for the High School project. The Town Council recently approved $1.6 million for this next phase of the project.
Upcoming events include a community forum at the Lowell School on proposed building changes, on November 28th at 6 PM; Superintendent’s coffee on November 26th at 9 AM and 7 PM; and School Committee meeting on December 10th.
Additional information is available on the WPS website at https://sites.google.com/a/watertown.k12.ma.us/watertown-k12-ma-us/.